By NIKOLE JAVIER
National University reclaimed the crown after turning back University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 23-25, 27-25, 25-16, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals on Wednesday night, May 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Lady Bulldogs emerged victorious in four sets to capture their second title out of three consecutive Finals stints before the 22,515 energetic fans – the highest season crowd turnout.
In Season 84, NU went all the way undefeated to the championship victory which snapped a 65-year title drought for the school’s women’s side.
However, things didn’t look good for the Lady Bulldogs the following year as they lost the title to the De La Salle Lady Spikers.
Even then, NU stayed consistent and eventually topped the eliminations of this season.
In Game 1, NU went off with pure effort before UST’s top performer and newly-awarded Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos came down with a right ankle injury midway through the game.
All season long, Bella Belen has crucially led the Lady Bulldogs in both offense and defense which propelled her to the top of the individual rankings and was eventually named Most Valuable Player for the second time in her UAAP career.
The third-year high flyer, who also bagged the First Best Outside Hitter award, posted 19 points built on 16 attacks and three blocks.
Alyssa Solomon was named Finals MVP after a fine showing in the championship series that saw her scatter a timely season-high 27 points on 20 attacks, four blocks and three service aces in Game 2.
In Game 1, the two-time Best Opposite Spiker finished with a team-high 17 markers in just three sets to claim the individual honors.
Vange Alinsug and Sheena Toring contributed 23 points combined in the four-set championship win.
Locked at 1-1 set apiece, NU crawled out of a 21-23 hole with Belen putting the match at a deadlock at 23-all.
As if that was not enough, Belen delivered the last three points as the Lady Bulldogs eventually took the third set for the lead.
With momentum on their side, NU refused to slow down and pounced even harder on UST in the fourth set to seal its sweet fate in the women’s side of things, just hours after the men’s squad captured its fourth straight title against a similar rival from the same school.
Meanwhile, Xyza Gula, who took turns with Poyos in the rotation, paced the Golden Tigresses with 18 points highlighted by 16 kills
Poyos came in spurts for UST inside the court throughout the game and finished with a career-low one point, a far cry from being the second highest scorer of the season.
Jonna Perdido had 14 points, while MJ Coronado and Bianca Plaza added 13 markers each in the painful championship defeat.
